CHAPTER 32: THE TASTE OF GOODBYE

"Rich Friends? Like you’ve got any friends" she stood up from the table, laughing.

"I’ve got friends— they begged for investment strategies. I’ve even ignored some messages"

"And you think they’ll invest in a failing company?"

"The lucky ones will" he chuckled, scrolling through his phone.

"Right..." She scoffed and turned to Xander. "I don’t know what you guys see but I don’t think it’s right to trust someone who plays stocks"

"I trust my guts, Miss Serta" he smiled, "and this is good business"

"Whatever you say" she huffed, "the lawyer— connect us later, I’m off"

"You’ll see what I’m talking about soon"

"Yeah, Boss... Just don’t come crying to us"

Xander watched as she walked away. What did she mean by ’us’? He glanced at Trent, who busied himself with his phone, humming.

Didn’t matter. This seemed interesting enough— A promotion out of nowhere and a path to improving Rotschen’s legacy.

Let’s make this work.

"And... Done— that’s 10 people" Trent tucked his phone into his pocket, looking around.

"You’ll be very busy, Man. I trust that everything will go well with Frazer"

"Yes, Sir. I promise"

"Good— let’s surprise everyone"

He continued humming the theme song for the Ackerman series he’d watched— so catchy. A good sign?

________

"Hello" he picked up his phone

"Hey... I’m at the house" Marie’s voice cut through.

"Oh..." His grip tightened on the wheel. "Has Mia shown you to the room?"

"...Yeah. Its bigger than the pictures" she chuckled.

"As long as it’s to my wife’s taste" he teased

"I’m fortunate to have a good husband", she chuckled

"Damn right, you are... And it’s my pleasure to have a great wife"

"...yeah" she scoffed, "for as long as it lasts" she muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing. Congratulations on acquiring a company— it’s trending"

"What?" His grip loosened from the wheel, surprised. "We just completed the signing"

How was it already trending?

"Someone must’ve leaked it to the media— it’s pushing more than it should"

"Someone powerful them" he muttered. Morlov?

"We’ll talk about it later— get some snacks and drinks on your way back, my good husband" she laughed, hanging up.

No need thinking much about it. He exhaled. This was actually a good thing, no?

________

What would she like? He wondered as he walked through the shelves.

Cookies? Which brand of drinks? Hah...

"You seem lost" a voice cut through from a corner, startling him.

He turned around to see the person— and old Man, dressed neatly in a suit.

"You are lost..." The old man chuckled, walking closer.

He smiled back, "Yes, Sir... There’s just too many things to buy"

"I hope you’re having a great time" he bowed

"Yeah— it’s a great time"

"Not so much for me" Trent chuckled, picking a bag of chips.

"You just closed a business deal. That counts as a great time"

What? Trent turned to him.

"You’re trending on the news— Congratulations"

Oh. "Thank you, Sir. Pardon my manners. Trent Ackerman— nice to meet you, Sir" he bowed again.

"Such a fine young man" the old man chuckled, eyes scanning him.

"Old Man Montclair— Nice to meet you too, Mr. Ackerman" he stretched his hand for a handshake.

Old Man Montclair? Why does the name sound familiar?

As soon as he walked closer, he sighted the bodyguard at the corner— tall, big and strong looking, glaring at him.

"Don’t mind Dmitri" Montclair chuckled.

"Your phone"

What? He turned to the old man, breaking the handshake.

"It’s rare to see such fine gentlemen these days— I could be in a position to assist you"

Trent opened his phone and gave it to the old Man who typed his number on it.

"Thank you, Sir" he smiled, collecting his phone.

"You’re welcome" he turned to leave, "The red one, blue one and green bottle" he said as he walked away, "she’ll love them"

Trent turned to the shelves— a red bag of chips, blue box of chocolates and drinks.

What an odd Old Man. He chuckled, bowing down.

________

He sighted Marie, Mia and Xander outside as he drove in.

What’s happening?

He pulled the bag from the passenger’s seat and stepped out.

"Welcome, Sir" Mia greeted as he walked towards them.

"Thank you, Mia" he smiled, "What’s happening?" He turned to Xander.

"I just got back, Sir— visited Miss Angela"

Oh? Were they getting close already? He chuckled.

"What about you, Hun" he asked Marie, with a grin.

Ugh... She rolled her eyes at him, "I told Mia to give me a tour... Hun"

They turned to Mia as she laughed softly,

"I–I’m sorry. You are both unique" she straightened her face.

Unique? They looked at each other. Did she catch onto something?

"You’re pretty unique too— we should have a talk in the study later"

"Yes, Sir" she bowed, stretching to take the bag.

"Don’t worry... This is for the unique Madam" he laughed.

"Sir..." Xander interrupted,

"Yeah?"

"The news— that was Miss Angela. We thought it’d be best to create hype since you’re going for investors"

"Wow" he blinked, excited, "That was Angela? Thank you, Man. Good job"

"My pleasure, Sir"

"Congratulations once more, Golden boy" Marie chuckled, turning to leave.

"You’ll have to do bigger than that" he laughed, following behind.

She turned and shook her head, laughing.

They stopped as a Car drove in, watching the person step out— Elena.

Fuck.

"You’ve got a guest" she muttered— low and cold tone, snatched the bag and walked in.

________

"Hi" she waved as she approached them.

Xander and Mia turned to him, as he walked towards them.

"You’re dismissed" he ordered— colder than he’d meant.

"Hi, El" he fixed his expression

"Congratulations on the company acquisition"

"Thank you. It’s nice to see you"

"Yeah..." She smiled, "about that..." She turned her face away, hesitating.

"What’s happening?"

"I–I’m leaving town"

"W–What? Why?" He shifted closer. His jaws tightened. He’d just seen her and she was leaving?

"I’m sorry, ti roi..." She turned to him, "I asked the Chief to send me to Icarden"

He looked at her silently for a while.

"Is that what you want?"

She turned her face away again.

"You could have everything here— You could quit the program and work here... With me"

His pulse quickened as he held her. Why was this happening— all the memories he thought he’d buried were resurfacing again.

"I’m sorry" she muttered, leaning into him. She sniffled as he tightened the hug.

She looked towards the house— why ruin something so beautiful? That would be selfish.

I love you, ti roi— always will. This was just bad timing.

"I’ve gotta go" she pulled away from his arms.

"Your mind’s set, huh?" He murmured. His heart ached. The memories were bursting out like a cracked dam.

"Y–Yeah... Take care of yourself, Trent" she said, turning away to leave.

He gulped. Why was it so painful to hear his name like that?

"You too, Mama"

She stopped as she heard him, surprised. Hesitation and the thoughts of what they were almost made her turn. She clenched her fists.

"I love you" she muttered, walking away.

________

"Good Morning" Marie greeted as he walked towards the table.

"Good morning" he muttered, pulling the chair backwards to seat.

"...what’s wrong?" She glanced at him. A sour expression this early?

"It’s nothing" he picked up his fork.

"I haven’t seen you since yesterday— doesn’t sound like nothing to me. Broke up with your girlfriend?"

"I said it’s nothing" he dropped his fork— harder than he’d intended.

"Yeah, right..." She scoffed, standing up. "I don’t know what it was, but I won’t let you yell at me"

"I’m sor—"

His phone rang, interrupting him. She pushed her chair back.

"It’s Anton" he muttered,

She waited, watching him take the call. The guts he had to yell— how funny... Just what happened?

"Good morning, Mr. Twerp..." Anton’s voice cut through the phone’s speaker.

"Morning, Chief. What’s going on?"

Anton went quiet for a while. "You seem to have woken on the wrong side of the bed, Twerp"

"You seem happy— good for you"

"It’s not easy being branch Chief" Anton huffed. "There’s some work— I’ll need you and Mrs. Wildling here"

"Alright— we’ll be there" he looked up at her and hung up.

"I’ll get ready" she huffed, walking off.

Fuck— such a bad start of the day. He pushed the food aside.

________

"Hello" two female agents greeted them as they walked towards the briefing room.

"Mr. Celebrity" Marie huffed, walking off as he waved at them.

"Celebrity, my ass" He watched them walk off, giggling. A celebrity that can’t control his emotions.

He looked at her— he’d tried to apologize but she didn’t seem to want it. Fuck.

"Good morning" he greeted Cisco as he walked in.

Cisco nodded, turning the screen on.

"You don’t look good, Twerp... What’s the matter?"

"It’s nothing"

"It’s nothing"

He glanced at Marie as she mimicked him— she turned away as their eyes met.

Wait— he turned to the screen.

"What’s this?"

"A gala guest list" Cisco replied.

Why was that Man there? His eyes widened.

"Twerp?..."